Kevin Barber

Kevin Barber serves as Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD), where he is responsible for advancing the Administration’s priorities to strengthen the nation’s small business economy through expanded access to capital, increased participation in federal contracting, workforce development, and support for domestic manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. In this role, he leads national programs, policy initiatives, and cross-agency coordination efforts serving more than 18 million veterans, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses engaged in entrepreneurship and small business ownership.

Mr. Barber works across SBA program offices and with federal, state, local, and private-sector partners to ensure veteran-owned small businesses are prepared to start, scale, and compete in the modern economy. His work emphasizes reducing structural barriers to capital, strengthening procurement readiness, and aligning veteran entrepreneurship programs with broader economic development, infrastructure, and workforce strategies. He supports data-driven program oversight and outcome-focused partnerships to ensure taxpayer resources are used efficiently and effectively to deliver measurable economic impact.

Prior to his federal service, Mr. Barber accumulated more than 25 years of private-sector leadership experience in energy, finance, and business development. A veteran entrepreneur, he founded Veteran Energy and 95 Bravo Resources. Veteran Energy was the first VA-certified, 100 percent veteran-owned retail electricity provider licensed in the State of Texas and the first veteran-owned provider awarded a Department of Veterans Affairs electricity contract in the state.

Before founding his companies, Mr. Barber held senior roles at Duke Energy, Integrys Energy, Panhandle Eastern Trading Company, PanEnergy Trading and Marketing, and Silvergate Bank, where he developed expertise in commodity markets, risk management, capital deployment, and business growth. He successfully led the expansion and sale of Veteran Energy in 2020.

Mr. Barber has also demonstrated sustained leadership in veteran and military family support through nonprofit and philanthropic initiatives. He founded the Power to Give Back™ program, an industry-first effort focused on employment, financial assistance, and community resources for veterans and military spouses. The program has contributed more than $1 million to veteran-serving organizations and helped connect veterans and military families to workforce and economic opportunity.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Barber served on active duty in the U.S. Army with the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Military Police Company, as a K-9 Handler. His military service continues to inform his commitment to public service, economic opportunity, and accountability in federal programs. He has served on numerous boards and advisory efforts related to entrepreneurship, workforce development, and veteran economic advancement.

Mr. Barber’s leadership has been recognized with multiple national honors, including The American Legion National Winner of the Year for Small Employer of Veterans; the DAV National Commander’s Award for Outstanding Small Employer of the Year; the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award; Leadership Houston’s Leadership in Action Award; the Better Business Bureau’s Distinction Award for Excellence; and the Mental Health America Award for Excellence in Veterans Assistance. He has been featured in NaVOBA’s Vetrepreneur Magazine, G.I. Jobs Magazine, the Houston Chronicle, and the Houston Business Journal.